In a perfect world, running a coaching business would only include what coaches enjoy the most: client calls and creating transformative programs.

However, as your practice grows, you’ll need better tools to manage scheduling, contracts and invoices, client communication, and so much more. 

Most new coaches use software like SimplePractice to stay organized, saving hours of work and headaches. In this article, we’ll examine this tool in-depth and explore SimplePractice alternatives, including:

• SimplePractice overview
• Why you should find a SimplePractice alternative
• Whether SimplePractice can be used for life coaching services
• 12 SimplePractice alternatives

What is SimplePractice?

SimplePractice is an electronic health record (EHR) solution designed for wellness professionals who see their clients in person or online. This practice management system is a one-stop solution to meet all administrative and client-facing needs. 

It also includes a client portal where your customers can manage their appointments.

As the name suggests, this practice management solution aims to simplify business and life for practitioners. Imagine having a bunch of notebooks and papers for different aspects of your business versus one central binder where everything is color-coded and neatly organized. 

Among its users, SimplePractice sees: 

• Behavioral health and wellness practitioners
• Speech-language pathologists
• Occupational therapists
• Dietitians and nutritionists
• Physical therapy practitioners

Life, business, and mental health coaches are a smaller user group. 

SimplePractice takes care of the following:

• Scheduling
• Insurance
• Documentation
• Security
• Billing
• Client portal
• Website builder
• Telehealth
• Support

Pro Tip: Looking for practice management tools that are built specifically for coaches? Try Paperbell for free to run your entire coaching business from a single platform.

Why Find a SimplePractice Alternative?

There are several reasons why people want to find a SimplePractice alternative. Some of them are:

Cost

The Starter subscription costs $49/month, but lacks essential features like appointment reminders, online appointment requests, and even out-of-office scheduling.

User experience

The learning curve can be overwhelming for some, leading them to revert to old solutions that may not fully meet their needs.

Target audience mismatch

SimplePractice is mainly for mental health professionals and may not cater to life coaches. For instance, they lack specific features like intake forms.

Lack of the latest features

Despite its credibility since 2011, SimplePractice may not be as innovative in its advanced features or as integrative with other systems when compared to newer solutions. This can make it more difficult for coaches to streamline their businesses and increase revenue.

Users report limitations in customization as well as the absence of a group coaching feature. However, they’ve recently earned HIPAA compliance, which was a notable issue in the past.

Customer support

A quick internet search shows that the lack of efficient customer service is a central complaint among users. 

Alternatives may offer better customer support, which is crucial during urgent client situations.

Integration with other systems

SimplePractice may not integrate natively with preferred systems like Acuity, Calendly, or Schedulista, prompting users to seek alternatives.

Can SimplePractice be used for life coaching services?

Yes! However, this client management software is designed with healthcare providers and mental health professionals in mind. For life coaches, terms like “patient scheduling” may feel out of place. 

So, as a life coach, you may want to look for alternatives to SimplePractice.

SimplePractice’s customer support claims that you must create customized client intake and progress note templates with questions and prompts relevant to life coaches. You can use our templates to make your coaching forms. 

If you’re willing to do that extra work, go for it!

If you prefer a ready-made solution with all the essential features to elevate your coaching business, consider exploring alternatives to SimplePractice below.

12 SimplePractice Alternatives

If you’re curious about exploring alternatives to SimplePractice, here are our recommendations. Some are for therapists or coaches, while others are general software solutions tailored to business owners and independent practices. 

1. Paperbell

Paperbell is the best practice management software created specifically for coaches and consultants. If you’d rather use your time to facilitate deep transformations instead of chasing late payments, you’ll love this platform. 

Paperbell handles:

• Online payments (subscriptions, pay-in-fulls, or payment plans)
• Scheduling and appointment management
• Offer pages (hosted on a beautiful, branded coaching website) 
• Client management and client portals
• Contract signing
• Content delivery (either instant or dripped to a specific schedule)

Pricing: Paperbell has everything you need to run a successful coaching business, without limits, for only a flat fee of $57 per month.

Paperbell also supports group coaching programs or programs that are a mix of 1:1 and group. No matter the type of private practice you run, you can tailor it to you. Check out our guide on how to use Paperbell, or watch this 5-minute guide on how to launch your coaching website:

2. Tebra

Tebra is the lovechild of Kareo and PatientPop. Users who have tried SimplePractice and Tebra claim that the latter is easier to administer and do business with. 

Tebra has a patient portal that can easily be used to coach clients in managing their appointments.

Pricing: Pricing for paid plans is upon request only. Users are prompted to schedule a free demo.

3. TherapyNotes

TherapyNotes is geared toward practitioners in behavioral health to keep better client records. The solution features an integrated system to handle business needs and administrative tasks such as:

• Scheduling appointments
• Notes
• Billing

Overall, it’s easier to use than SimplePractice but somewhat less robust.

TherapyNotes can brag about being the highest-rated EHR on Trustpilot – at the time of writing, it has a score of 4.9 out of 5.

Pricing: Individual users pay $59/month for monthly subscriptions, and clinic or enterprise users pay $69/month plus $40/month for each additional clinician. 

4. Epic

Epic is among the veterans in the EHR space. The software has helped health and wellness practitioners manage their businesses since 1979. 

While reputable, some users comment that it’s slow, and the user interface could be more intuitive. 

Pricing: It is not mentioned on their website. According to SelectHub, pricing averages from $25 to $1,000 per person per month, making it one of the most expensive solutions.

5. Spruce Health

Spruce Health is a comprehensive software with features such as:

• Client management
• Messaging service
• Auto-replies
• Video conferencing 

It also has a Slack-style team chat to connect with your team. 

Users have mentioned that this EHR lacks key functionalities like scheduling, so it might not be the first choice for life coaches if you’re not ready to use a separate booking system. Allegedly, their customer support can also be hard to reach beyond a chatbot.

Pricing: The Basic subscription is $24/month, and the Communicator is $49/month. The latter includes functionalities like API access and integrations. 

6. Ensora Mental Health (Formerly TheraNest)

Ensora Mental Health, formerly TheraNest, is a new system that helps therapists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors manage their practices and client experience. It can be used by individuals and practices. 

This is an excellent option for coaches who have a team and want to communicate internally. You can also use it as a solopreneur.

Some popular features are templates for note-taking to keep track of each client’s progress. However, TheraNest lacks some features that could be relevant to coaches, such as the option to book group sessions.

Pricing: TheraNest offers a free 21-day trial; no credit card needed. For solopreneurs, the Essentials plan costs $29 per month, but key features like online booking and intake forms are only available in the Advanced plan for $59/month per user. 

7. Practice Better

Practice Better has a client portal and a feature for creating courses and programs. This practice management software is specifically helpful for nutritionists and dietitians, since it comes with integrated tools for food, water, and weight management.

You can also create prescriptions and order labs. Thus, it could be an excellent choice for health coaches.

Practice Better has received praise for its responsive support team. However, like some other practice management software, it lacks features for managing group practices, such as the capability of hosting group calls or creating group packages and offers. 

Pricing: Practice Better offers a free trial for all its subscriptions. The subscriptions range from the Starter at $25/month to the Team at $145/month. 

8. Luma Health

Luma Health focuses on creating an easy customer journey and is highly rated among its users. Patients can chat using the integrated messaging system. It also has a “smart waitlist” function that offers your clients a spot if someone cancels their booking. 

That said, Luma Health is focused on health professionals. Coaches may find they lack key tools and features, such as the ability to create offer packages and sales pages. 

Pricing: Luma Health does not disclose their pricing details, but prompts users to book a demo. This suggests it’s a solution suitable for established companies. 

9. Assembly (formerly Copilot)

In contrast to the other SimplePractice alternatives covered, Assembly is not specifically aimed at mental health professionals. It’s a platform for agencies, freelancers, and startups to help them run and grow their businesses. 

Life coaches, health coaches, and healthcare professionals can benefit from: 

• Scheduling
• Client forms
• Easy automated billing
• In-app messaging
• The ability to create and manage contracts
• And so much more

Pricing: Their packages range from Starter at $59/month for a single user and up to 50 active clients, to Custom (price upon request) for unlimited clients and users.

10. Dubsado

You’ve probably heard of Dubsado. This business management software is designed with freelancers, coaches, and creatives in mind. 

It has a client portal and lets your customers sign contracts. Dubsado also has an email feature that allows you to send welcome emails and customizable forms in one click. 

It is robust and flexible, but on the flip side, it has a relatively steep learning curve. You need to be willing to invest some time, but it can be worth it if you need functionalities like contracts, a client portal, and invoicing in one place.

Pricing: The Starter plan is $20/month for unlimited clients. The Premier plan, with automations, scheduling, and integrations, is $40/month. 

 11. Podium 

Podium is different from the other alternatives on this list. It is an AI lead generation and client management platform that lets you manage your marketing efforts and client reviews. 

Thus, it involves the steps before and after a client signs up.

Podium also includes reputation management. Since it offers many more functionalities than “simple” client management software, it’s also substantially more expensive, which means it may be an alternative only for more established coaches.

Pricing: Podium no longer provides transparency on its pricing. You’ll need to submit a form to get a quote.

12. HoneyBook

HoneyBook helps coaches through the entire customer journey. From signing the contract to creating invoices, scheduling sessions, sending automated emails, and collecting feedback after a client contract ends, HoneyBook takes care of every step of the journey.

However, it lacks the flexibility to easily create simple coaching packages you can use over and over again. You can learn more about the pros and cons of HoneyBook here.

Pricing: You can try HoneyBook free for 7 days, then get the Starter plan at $36/month. If you want scheduling tools and automations, you’ll need to upgrade to Essentials for $59/month, and if you want unlimited lead forms and team members, that’ll take the premium plan at $129/month.

The Best SimplePractice Alternative For Coaches and Consultants

Life coaches as well as consultants can save money and find satisfying business management software solutions by considering SimplePractice alternatives. 

Although SimplePractice is still popular for mental health practitioners and behavioral health professionals, it lacks the customization and customer support that coaches look for. That’s because it’s tailored with health and wellness businesses in mind, not coaches.

If you’re looking for the best practice management platform designed with coaches in mind, try out Paperbell for free and get your custom coaching website up and running in minutes.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June 2024 and has since been updated for accuracy.